SB 25-229

Senate Bill 25-229 allows Medicaid to start reimbursing community health workers for their services starting January 1, 2026, but only after getting federal approval. This will help these workers get paid for the care they provide to Medicaid members. The bill also delays a report on how much this program costs and how it’s used until January 31, 2027. It reduces some funding for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing by over $1 million for the current fiscal year. Since the status is "signed," the bill has been approved and will become law as described.

Official Summary

Beginning January 1, 2026, the act allows the department of health care policy and financing (department) to reimburse community health workers for services rendered to medicaid members after receiving any necessary federal authorization. Reimbursement for community health worker services is subject to available appropriations. The act postpones until January 31, 2027, the requirement for the department to report to the general assembly on community health worker utilization and costs in the medicaid program. The act reduces the appropriations to the department from the general fund for the 2025-26 fiscal year by $1,364,558 and the healthcare affordability and sustainability cash fund for the 2025-26 fiscal year by $342,750. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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